Blue-Eyes White Dragon

The Rock Duel Arena in Iwagakure roared with noise.

Fresh off another victory, Boruto Uzumaki stood surrounded by local duelists who looked frustrated but helpless. His face shone with the undisguised pride of a boy his age.

"See that, Shikadai?" Boruto pumped a fist at his friend.

"I told you we'd make a name for ourselves here! Battle City's so-called experts can't stand up to me and my Red-Eyes!"

For once, Shikadai Nara didn't immediately pour cold water on him. He kept his hands in his pockets, his brow furrowed as he calmly analyzed what he had seen.

"Boruto, honestly, I'm starting to believe that nonsense of yours about cards sensing each other."

He raised his eyes and fixed Boruto with a sharp look. "In those last ten duels, you crushed your opponents with Red-Eyes Black Dragon's sheer power in the first two. But in the other eight, they clearly outclassed you in both strategy and resource management."

He paused, disbelief creeping into his voice. "Yet every single time you were backed into a corner, you somehow drew exactly the card you needed to turn things around. Graceful Dice, Time Wizard—you pulled them out like magic."

"You can't explain that with luck anymore! You're trampling all over the laws of probability!"

"Haha!" Boruto planted his hands on his hips, brimming with confidence. "I told you, my deck and I have a bond! The cards answered my hopes!"

"Just watch, Shikadai. This month, I'm going to sweep through all of Battle City and become the King of Games—Boruto Uzumaki!"

His loud, brazen declaration echoed through the vast arena.

"What did you say you were going to become?"

A cold, commanding voice cut through the uproar like a drawn blade.

The crowd parted on its own, opening a path.

A tall, straight-backed